No soreness, no tightness, no pain in the left Achilles that had landed him on the injury list. And Carter, who likely will sit tonight at home against Cleveland and then make his Nets debut Monday in Detroit, admits he is further along in his rehab than he thought, having worked out two days as a Net.

“I expected it to be sore this morning from [Monday], and it was nothing,” Carter said yesterday after going through Nets offenses for a second straight day. “I went hard yesterday. I didn’t ice and got sore right after. But if you attack it early, it gives it time to settle down.”

Carter moved well in the morning workouts and, despite that pleasant surprise, he and everybody else is looking long term.

“My goal is to just take my time and let the body do its magic. But it feels good. It’s been all for the best so far. I’m not saying I’m a fast healer, but I’m going to take my time listen to the doctors,” said Carter, acknowledging he is beyond where he figured to be.

“Once I’m able to get rid of the swelling, it heals faster. I don’t want to sound like a doctor, but in the area it’s inflamed, it’s tight, which is making it pull. He’s starting to loosen that up and it’s healing.”

*

Nets will add a big body and soon. Likely candidate is Golden State’s Cliff Robinson with New Orleans’ P.J. Brown (probably too pricey) in the mix with Toronto’s Donyell Marshall.

“We’d like to add another piece and we’re actively trying to sift through things,” team president Rod Thorn said. “But we’re only going to do something that makes sense.”

Nets started Nenad Krstic over Brian Scalabrine because of “matchups with Primoz Brezec and [Emeka] Okafor and we’re relying on Brian’s energy with the second unit,” coach Lawrence Frank said.

Nets activated 6-11 Jabari Smith from the injury list . . . Travis Best remained sidelined with a right groin strain, an ailment he tweaked Monday . . . Richard Jefferson tonight will present the wheelchair he bought for a 5-year-old Mahwah girl, Jane Millare. The child’s wheelchair was destroyed by a hit and run driver. Jefferson heard about it and purchased her a new one.